The design of U.S. #1073 comes from a painting by Benjamin West, called, “Franklin Taking Lightning from the Sky.” West and Franklin were close friends, with Franklin acting as godfather to West’s second son, also named Benjamin. The stamp was issued on the 250th anniversary of Franklin’s birth. West’s painting was completed in 1805. Whether or not Franklin actually flew a kite in a lightning storm is disputed, although he definitely wrote about it. Franklin made a life-long study of electricity. He invented the lightning rod and made other notable advances.